Computer Curriculum

Curriculum Highlights – Computers

St. Fabian School, 2009-2010

The mission of the computer curriculum at St. Fabian School is to ensure the use of technology as a tool to increase effective communication, collaboration, cooperation, learning, decision-making, and problem solving. Through the use of technology, students will be more information and technologically literate and more independent learners.
Goals for St. Fabian School student achievement include but are not limited to:

  • St. Fabian School students will use technology as they learn subject content and life-long learning skills.
  • Students will use technology to retrieve, organize, manipulate, evaluate, and communicate information.
  • All students will use critical thinking, creativity, and age-appropriate decision-making skills to apply technology to an end-educational product.
  • St. Fabian School students will apply ethical and legal solutions as related to using and evaluating technology.
  • All students will investigate the impact of technology on their world, examine the possible effects of technology on their society, and learn to make informed decisions based on their findings.

St. Fabian School students are expected to perform in accordance with grade-level standards as presented by the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS) and the Michigan Educational Technology Standards and Expectations (METS). After an extensive orientation for all grades, the following highlights areas of study for students.
The Lower Elementary Curriculum
Kindergarten through Third Grade students will be introduced, but not limited, to:

  • Knowing what a computer is, how to start, re-start, and shut down
  • Identify the major hardware components in a computer system
  • Proper care of software and hardware
  • Informal keyboarding skills
  • Open and access paint programs to draw
  • Access and open a word processing program and enter text
  • Log off and on a network, open programs, and print
  • Use age-appropriate media, educational games and reference materials
  • Discuss improper and irresponsible use of technology and the associated consequences

The use of the Internet at this age is limited to carefully-screened age-appropriate web browsers and their contents. The students will be able to use the Internet interactively to read stories, play games, learn crafts, and participate in educational activities under close supervision.

The Upper Elementary Curriculum

Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades will continue to reinforce their computer awareness, skills, and software usage as they are introduced, but not limited to, the following:

  • Recognize and discuss the need for security applications
  • Know how to use basic input/output devices
  • Develop proper keyboarding positions
  • Explain what a network is and how to access, save, and retrieve files from a personal network space
  • Use search engines and built-in search functions to locate information on the Internet
  • Proofread and edit writing using appropriate resources
  • Discuss the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, and bias of electronic information resources
  • Participate in and understand an Acceptable Use Policy
  • Use age-appropriate citing of sources for electronic reports
  • Highlight, move, duplicate, and apply special effects to graphics and text
  • Master and extend learning of the drawing process, shape tool, text tool, patterning and color, and special effects
  • User formatting, cut, copy, paste, insert, use spell check and grammar tools
  • Understand electronic encyclopedias and how to perform rudimentary keyword, name, and phrase searching
  • Use a variety of technology tools and applications to promote creativity

 

Internet activity will broaden to include research and evaluating websites for authority, content, and design.

Middle School Curriculum

Students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades also continue to reinforce their computer awareness, skills, and software usage as they are introduced, but not limited to:

  • Use proper keyboarding posture and finger positions to improve accuracy, speed, and general efficiency in operating a computer
  • Use a variety of technology tools to maximize the accuracy of end-products (e.g., dictionary, thesaurus, spell-check, grammar-check, and calculator)
  • Identify technology resources that assist with various consumer-related activities
  • Proofread and edit writing
  • Understand the potential risks and dangers associated with online communication and the consequences of such actions
  • Discuss issues related to acceptable and responsible use of technology
  • Provide accurate citations when references information
  • Use technology to identify and explore various occupations for careers
  • Apply common software features to enhance communication and support creativity
  • Use a variety of technology resources including the Internet to increase learning and productivity
  • Use available utilities for editing pictures, images, or charts
  • Create a project using a variety of media and formats to present content information
  • Use a variety of search engines to locate and evaluate information
  • Identify types of Internet sites based on their domain names (e.g., edu, com, org, gov)
  • Use spreadsheet information to make predications, develop strategies, and evaluate decisions to assist with solving a basic problem

Internet activity will broaden to include research and evaluating websites for authority, content, and design.

 

THE ST. FABIAN TECHNOLOGY PLAN - pdf file


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